WEBVTT

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 This morning, Pastor Davis Morgan from our sister church, Westside PCA, here in town, is going to bring God's word to us.

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 And so, Davis, welcome.

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 New Testament reading is found in 1 Timothy chapter 3.

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 1 Timothy chapter 3, verses 14 through 16.

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 So great to be with you again.

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 Cheyenne Mountain.

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 And I believe I was here on November 1st.

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 And that was the Sunday that we started 1 Timothy at Westside Church.

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 We have wrapped up that book.

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 But one of my favorite passages is verses 14 through 16 in chapter 3 of 1 Timothy.

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 And so, I thought I would bring that word to you today as we draw near to the end of 2020.

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 So, hear the word of our Lord, His holy, His inspired word that He has kept and preserved for us, His people, today.

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 1 Timothy chapter 3, verse 14 and following.

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 The Apostle Paul writes,

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 This is the word of God.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Let us pray for our time in His word.

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 Join with me, please.

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 Lord God, we thank you for this time that we have, that you have in your great providence you have ordained for us,

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 that we would be here this day to sit under the preaching of your word.

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 God, we confess as your people.

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 We confess as those who perhaps are here that are not part of your people.

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 But you are drawing to yourself.

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 Lord, we all have in common our need for your spirits and our need for you to reveal the glorious gospel of your Son.

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 Amen.

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 We pray, we ask for this.

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 We ask for the gift of understanding, of illumination, of knowledge of who Jesus Christ is.

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 We also pray for the little theologians that are here.

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 Lord, the children that are sitting under the preaching of your word.

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 We pray that you too would work in their hearts to give them understanding of these things.

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 Take the things of Christ and make them real to us here today.

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 We pray in His holy name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 In the darkness, something was happening at last.

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 A voice had begun to sing.

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 It seemed to come from all directions at once.

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 Its lower notes were deep enough to be the voice of the earth herself.

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 There were no words.

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 There was hardly even a tune.

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 But it was beyond comparison.

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 The most beautiful noise they had ever heard.

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 Those present looked above them and saw the blackness filled with stars.

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 And each of them were singing as well.

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 But the voice of the stars grew fainter as the voice of the one singing drew near.

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 Wind came rushing.

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 The blackness of the sky turned to gray.

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 Hills began to stand up around them.

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 The sky changed to pink and then to a brilliant gold.

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 And as soon as the voice swelled to the mightiest sound it could produce, the sun rose over the hills.

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 And from the sun's light, they all could see the source of the singing.

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 A large golden lion standing in the middle of the valley.

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 With each step, the singing lion took with its large paws trees and mountains and animals and rivers and flowers

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 and all sorts of lovely things were bursting forth into existence until finally all was created.

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 Narnia had been created by the voice of the lion.

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 Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, awake, love, think, speak, be walking trees, be talking beasts, be divine waters.

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 Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, Narnia.

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 This scene is from C.S. Lewis' The Magician's Nephew.

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 And it brilliantly captures the creation story.

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 Written in such a way as to capture the compelling nature of what Christianity is from beginning to end.

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 And that is a story.

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 It's the story of all stories.

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 It's the greatest story ever told.

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 because as J.R.R. Tolkien told his good friend Jack Lewis,

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 his friend Jack Lewis, who at the time was struggling to believe such a story,

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 Tolkien said, quote,

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 This story has entered history and become the primary story.

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 That's what sets it apart from all other stories.

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 Other stories may talk a big game,

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 but when the time comes when they are measured up against God's story,

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 they fold every time.

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 This is why the British playwright and author Dorothy Sayers called the Christian story,

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 quote,

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 The most exciting drama that ever staggered the imagination of man.

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 And the meaning of it all, she says,

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 the dogma, what it means, she said very famously,

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 is the drama.

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 The doctrine or the dogma is the drama.

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 Who God is and what he has done in history,

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 recorded for us in Scripture,

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 is the most thrilling and the most exciting story that you and I will ever encounter

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 because this story has happened in time and space.

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 It has happened in history,

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 which is a good reminder for us.

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 It's a great reminder for us who sit here this morning

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 under the preaching of this story

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 on the last Sunday of the year.

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 And what a year it has been.

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 A global pandemic,

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 shutdowns,

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 mask mandates,

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 social distancing,

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 civil, social, political unrest.

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 If anything sums up 2020,

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 it's unrest.

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 It's uncertainty.

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 And it's a very stark reminder

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 for us not to hold on to the things of this present age

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 because they can be turned upside down in a moment.

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 They can be taken away just like that.

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 With such uncertainty and unrest,

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 we might be tempted to think

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 that there really is no certainty,

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 that there really is no truth to hold on to.

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 Or at the very least,

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 the truth that I decide to believe in

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 is what Carl Truman calls,

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 quote,

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 the triumph of the therapeutic self.

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 In other words,

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 whatever I feel is true.

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 But as you well might imagine,

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 that's even a more shaky ground.

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 That's even more unstable to stand on.

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 Because as my wife could tell you,

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 as long as I have my coffee

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 first thing in the morning,

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 I'm a happy guy.

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 But if I'm hungry,

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 if I'm tired,

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 or if I've only had one cup of coffee,

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 I can be quite unpleasant.

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 Or my feelings may tell me one thing.

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 My kids haven't emptied the dishwasher

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 after I asked them five minutes to go.

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 Therefore,

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 I'm angry.

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 When in reality,

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 they simply didn't hear me

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 say for them to empty the dishwasher.

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 They got distracted by a phone call

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 from their grandmother.

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 My feelings may tell me to be angry,

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 but I'm missing crucial information

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 that would say,

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 there's no need to be angry.

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 What I'm saying is this,

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 while our feelings are important,

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 and they are,

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 in terms of sustaining us

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 in the midst of uncertainty,

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 they're unreliable.

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 And here's what I have for you today.

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 Something from outside of us.

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 Something that is imperishable,

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 undefiled, unfading,

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 that's kept in heaven for you.

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 Something that cannot be shaken,

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 because it is made possible,

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 it is guaranteed by the one

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 who is infinite,

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 eternal,

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 and unchangeable.

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 that though the mountains

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 may be moved

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 into the heart of the sea,

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 though the waters roar and foam,

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 though the mountains tremble

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 at the swelling,

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 we will not fear,

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 for our God is our refuge.

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 Our God is our strength,

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 and through His Son,

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 He is able to save you and I,

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 Hebrews chapter 7 says,

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 to the uttermost,

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 to the uttermost.

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 This refuge in Christ

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 is what Martin Luther called

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 our mighty fortress,

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 a bulwark,

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 a foundation that is never failing.

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 Luther was reflecting upon Psalm 46,

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 and in our text this morning,

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 1 Timothy 3, 14 and 16,

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 but particularly verse 16,

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 Paul is reflecting,

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 Paul too is reflecting upon

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 that same surety,

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 that same foundation,

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 that certainty that we have

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 in Jesus.

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 And here's what we learn

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 in 1 Timothy chapter 3,

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 that not only do we have

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 this foundation,

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 but that we as the church,

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 we are the fortress,

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 we are the fortress,

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 we are the guardian

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 of that truth.

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 We guard it,

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 we defend it,

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 we use it to defeat

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 the strongholds of the enemy,

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 as Paul says

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 in 2 Corinthians chapter 10.

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 The weapons that we have

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 are not of the flesh,

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 but have divine power

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 to destroy those arguments,

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 those lofty opinions

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 that are raised up

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 against the knowledge of God,

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 that are raised up

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 against the truth of God,

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 that he has sovereignly revealed

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 in his word

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 for you and for me.

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 So,

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 we're going to unpack this

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 by looking at Paul's instructions

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 to Timothy and the church.

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 1 Timothy 3,

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 verses 14 through 16.

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 And I want to point you

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 to three aspects.

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 I want to point you

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 to the story,

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 I want to point you

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 to the dogma,

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 and I want to point you

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 to the life

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 that results from that.

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 The story,

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 we're referring to

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 the action of God,

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 the dogma,

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 we're talking about

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 the meaning

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 of what God has done,

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 and the life

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 is the practice,

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 the response

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 that we are to have

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 to what God has done.

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 Now,

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 for you little theologians,

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 for the kids

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 that are here today,

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 here's what I like

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 for you to draw,

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 kids,

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 if it's okay

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 with your parents.

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 I like you to draw

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 a scene

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 from your favorite story,

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 your favorite story.

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 For me,

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 this time of year,

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 I love

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 Charles Dickens'

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 A Christmas Story,

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 or A Christmas Carol,

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 A Christmas Story,

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 that's on TNT.

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 A Christmas Carol.

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 I try to read that

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 every year

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 around this time.

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 So,

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 for you kids,

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 I want you to draw

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 a picture

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 of your favorite story

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 or your favorite book

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 that you like to read

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 or that you like

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 to have read to you.

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 And here are the two questions,

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 kids,

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 that I'd like you

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 to listen for,

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 that I'd like you

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 to answer today.

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 One,

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 what is the Christian story?

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 And two,

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 why do we need

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 to know this story?

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 What is the Christian story,

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 and why do we need

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 to know the Christian story?

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 Now,

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 first,

00:12:30.560 --> 00:12:31.399
 we're going to,

00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:32.759
 we're going to start

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 in verse 16

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 and then move back

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 and finish with verse 14.

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 So,

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 look with me first

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 at the story

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 of Scripture

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 that's found

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 in verse 16.

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 Paul says

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 in 1 Timothy 3, 16,

00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:45.299
 great indeed

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 is the mystery

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 of godliness.

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 Now,

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 why is Paul saying this?

00:12:51.379 --> 00:12:53.399
 What Paul is alluding here to

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 is twofold.

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 He's alluding to

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 the pagan mystery

00:12:59.439 --> 00:13:00.279
 religions

00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:01.259
 or cults

00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:02.559
 of the ancient world,

00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:04.200
 and in particularly,

00:13:04.460 --> 00:13:06.439
 he is alluding to

00:13:06.439 --> 00:13:07.220
 or referencing

00:13:07.220 --> 00:13:09.039
 the confession

00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:10.419
 that was there

00:13:10.419 --> 00:13:11.460
 in Ephesus

00:13:11.460 --> 00:13:12.100
 at the time

00:13:12.100 --> 00:13:12.840
 in the first century.

00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:13.840
 If you remember

00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:14.439
 the story

00:13:14.439 --> 00:13:15.639
 in Acts chapter 19

00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:17.379
 when Paul was in Ephesus,

00:13:18.019 --> 00:13:20.100
 he turned the entire city

00:13:20.100 --> 00:13:21.439
 upside down

00:13:21.439 --> 00:13:22.600
 by preaching the gospel,

00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:23.539
 and he performed

00:13:23.539 --> 00:13:24.340
 an exorcism

00:13:24.340 --> 00:13:25.860
 on a girl,

00:13:26.220 --> 00:13:27.080
 a slave girl

00:13:27.080 --> 00:13:27.799
 there in the market.

00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:29.259
 she was possessed

00:13:29.259 --> 00:13:30.139
 by a demon,

00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:31.839
 and Paul,

00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:33.259
 he exercised

00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:33.639
 that demon.

00:13:34.359 --> 00:13:34.819
 He demonstrated

00:13:34.819 --> 00:13:35.379
 the power

00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:36.019
 of the gospel

00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:37.679
 over the pagan

00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:38.699
 mystery religions

00:13:38.699 --> 00:13:39.459
 of the time,

00:13:39.859 --> 00:13:40.919
 and the city's

00:13:40.919 --> 00:13:41.959
 response to this

00:13:41.959 --> 00:13:43.159
 was great hostility

00:13:43.159 --> 00:13:44.159
 to the apostle,

00:13:44.839 --> 00:13:45.539
 and it says there

00:13:45.539 --> 00:13:47.039
 in Acts 17

00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:47.819
 or Acts 19

00:13:47.819 --> 00:13:49.399
 that the entire city

00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:49.979
 had gathered

00:13:49.979 --> 00:13:50.919
 in the amphitheater

00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:51.819
 there in Ephesus,

00:13:52.319 --> 00:13:53.459
 and they were chanting,

00:13:54.199 --> 00:13:54.799
 great is Artemis

00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:56.519
 of the Ephesians.

00:13:57.419 --> 00:13:58.019
 And so here,

00:13:58.139 --> 00:13:59.099
 Paul is both,

00:13:59.219 --> 00:14:00.139
 he is referencing

00:14:00.139 --> 00:14:01.719
 those two

00:14:01.719 --> 00:14:04.019
 common beliefs,

00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:07.079
 common creeds

00:14:07.079 --> 00:14:07.859
 or confessions

00:14:07.859 --> 00:14:09.579
 of Ephesus

00:14:09.579 --> 00:14:10.620
 at the time

00:14:10.620 --> 00:14:11.279
 because this letter

00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:11.679
 was written

00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:12.199
 to Timothy

00:14:12.199 --> 00:14:12.839
 in Ephesus,

00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:15.539
 and he's alluding

00:14:15.539 --> 00:14:16.620
 to what the culture

00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:17.519
 then held

00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:18.459
 to be sacred,

00:14:19.459 --> 00:14:20.859
 and he's shedding light

00:14:20.859 --> 00:14:22.399
 on what is truly sacred,

00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:25.120
 and that is what God

00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:25.879
 says,

00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.279
 what God has done

00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:28.019
 and revealed

00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:28.579
 to the world

00:14:28.579 --> 00:14:29.840
 because after he says

00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:30.860
 great indeed

00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:31.740
 is the mystery

00:14:31.740 --> 00:14:32.500
 of godliness,

00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:34.439
 he unfolds

00:14:34.439 --> 00:14:35.959
 what this mystery is.

00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:37.079
 It's that God

00:14:37.079 --> 00:14:38.819
 has moved towards us.

00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:40.319
 We cannot move

00:14:40.319 --> 00:14:40.959
 towards him

00:14:40.959 --> 00:14:41.439
 in our sin,

00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:42.340
 but he has moved

00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:43.360
 towards us.

00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:45.000
 God has acted

00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:45.819
 in history.

00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:47.019
 This God,

00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:47.779
 the living God

00:14:47.779 --> 00:14:48.240
 that he says

00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:49.079
 in verse 15,

00:14:49.659 --> 00:14:50.899
 he is the foundation

00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:52.079
 of all religion.

00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:53.040
 He is the foundation

00:14:53.040 --> 00:14:54.040
 of all worship,

00:14:54.180 --> 00:14:54.780
 all piety,

00:14:54.920 --> 00:14:55.520
 all devotion,

00:14:55.520 --> 00:14:56.680
 and Paul wants us

00:14:56.680 --> 00:14:57.160
 to understand

00:14:57.160 --> 00:14:58.420
 that if we miss this,

00:14:59.060 --> 00:15:00.460
 then we miss him.

00:15:00.700 --> 00:15:02.460
 We miss ultimate reality.

00:15:02.680 --> 00:15:03.940
 We miss essentially

00:15:03.940 --> 00:15:04.680
 everything

00:15:04.680 --> 00:15:06.400
 if we miss this God.

00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:09.980
 You want to know

00:15:09.980 --> 00:15:11.120
 what is truly great

00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:11.740
 and stunning

00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:13.200
 in the world to see.

00:15:14.540 --> 00:15:15.440
 While we might

00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.879
 look out these windows

00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:19.440
 and be amazed

00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:20.340
 by the mountains,

00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:22.700
 or earlier this week,

00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:23.740
 we may be amazed

00:15:23.740 --> 00:15:28.139
 when the planets align

00:15:28.139 --> 00:15:30.500
 and we are moved

00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:32.460
 to awe and wonder.

00:15:35.300 --> 00:15:36.780
 What is truly great

00:15:36.780 --> 00:15:37.620
 and truly stunning,

00:15:37.820 --> 00:15:38.139
 friends,

00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:39.920
 is what Paul says

00:15:39.920 --> 00:15:40.600
 this mystery

00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:42.220
 of godliness is.

00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:44.480
 The mystery meaning

00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:45.920
 it was once hidden.

00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:47.319
 It was once hidden

00:15:47.319 --> 00:15:48.240
 to us.

00:15:48.839 --> 00:15:49.959
 It was once hidden

00:15:49.959 --> 00:15:51.159
 to us in our darkness,

00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:52.259
 in the darkness of sin.

00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:54.099
 And God now

00:15:54.099 --> 00:15:55.039
 has revealed,

00:15:55.620 --> 00:15:56.679
 revealed this

00:15:56.679 --> 00:15:57.500
 to the world.

00:15:58.000 --> 00:15:58.740
 He has revealed

00:15:58.740 --> 00:16:00.019
 what Gerhardus Voss

00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:00.740
 said,

00:16:01.439 --> 00:16:02.479
 the chief actor

00:16:02.479 --> 00:16:03.360
 in this drama

00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:04.779
 has come upon

00:16:04.779 --> 00:16:05.599
 the scene.

00:16:06.419 --> 00:16:07.399
 The chief actor

00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:08.240
 has stepped

00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:09.360
 into history.

00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:12.480
 And you'll notice

00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:12.759
 there,

00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:13.399
 after he says,

00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:14.039
 great indeed

00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:14.600
 is the mystery

00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:15.180
 of godliness,

00:16:15.659 --> 00:16:17.039
 he then presents

00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:18.480
 this in poetic form.

00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:19.659
 Poetic form

00:16:19.659 --> 00:16:20.480
 in verse 16.

00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:23.519
 And what we can gather

00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:25.820
 from this text,

00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:27.659
 from other texts

00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.680
 like Philippians 2,

00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:29.399
 5-11,

00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:29.879
 for example,

00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:30.360
 you may know

00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:31.060
 that passage,

00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:32.440
 or Colossians 1,

00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:33.360
 15-20.

00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:35.700
 These commentators

00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:36.960
 are convinced of

00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:38.200
 were early confessions

00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:38.960
 of the church.

00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:40.919
 Which means

00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:42.300
 what we're reading here

00:16:42.300 --> 00:16:44.779
 in all likelihood

00:16:44.779 --> 00:16:45.580
 goes back

00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:46.600
 to the very first

00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:48.120
 generation of disciples,

00:16:48.340 --> 00:16:49.360
 the very first

00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:51.039
 generation of the church,

00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:52.259
 those who walked

00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:52.820
 with Jesus

00:16:52.820 --> 00:16:53.680
 when he was here

00:16:53.680 --> 00:16:54.100
 on earth.

00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:56.600
 And that makes

00:16:56.600 --> 00:16:57.340
 what we see

00:16:57.340 --> 00:16:58.779
 in this early creed,

00:16:58.860 --> 00:16:59.919
 this early confession,

00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:01.620
 that much more remarkable

00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:02.100
 because,

00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:04.660
 as New Testament scholar

00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:05.440
 Richard Baucom,

00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:06.420
 he says,

00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:06.819
 quote,

00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:08.799
 the earliest Christology

00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:11.220
 already was the highest

00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:12.680
 Christology of the church.

00:17:12.859 --> 00:17:14.019
 That's what we see

00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:15.339
 in 1 Timothy 3, 16.

00:17:15.700 --> 00:17:17.059
 The earliest belief

00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:18.079
 about who Jesus

00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:19.799
 is,

00:17:19.859 --> 00:17:20.339
 and Jesus,

00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:21.819
 when he came

00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:22.639
 into this world,

00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:23.759
 was already

00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:25.139
 the highest belief

00:17:25.139 --> 00:17:26.000
 that you could have.

00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:27.159
 And we find

00:17:27.159 --> 00:17:28.259
 here in this passage

00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:29.480
 the exaltation

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:31.059
 of Jesus Christ.

00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:33.139
 What great comfort

00:17:33.139 --> 00:17:34.319
 that is for us,

00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:34.799
 is it not?

00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:37.559
 What great comfort

00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:38.059
 to know that

00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:39.139
 from the very beginning,

00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:40.740
 the church knew

00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:42.099
 who Jesus was

00:17:42.099 --> 00:17:42.980
 and what he had

00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:43.919
 come to do.

00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.460
 And they are

00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.200
 confessing this

00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:46.879
 for us

00:17:46.879 --> 00:17:48.240
 so that future

00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:48.899
 generations

00:17:48.899 --> 00:17:50.720
 know who Jesus

00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.419
 was

00:17:51.419 --> 00:17:52.419
 and what he came

00:17:52.419 --> 00:17:52.819
 for.

00:17:53.879 --> 00:17:55.259
 So for us today,

00:17:55.439 --> 00:17:55.819
 friends,

00:17:56.179 --> 00:17:57.339
 this is God's

00:17:57.339 --> 00:17:58.240
 gracious reminder

00:17:58.240 --> 00:17:58.779
 to us

00:17:58.779 --> 00:17:59.899
 about the foundation,

00:18:00.159 --> 00:18:00.639
 the rock,

00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:01.299
 the certainty

00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:02.339
 that we have

00:18:02.339 --> 00:18:04.139
 this mystery

00:18:04.139 --> 00:18:04.740
 of godliness

00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.659
 that he has revealed.

00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:07.680
 And what has he revealed?

00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:08.480
 First,

00:18:09.159 --> 00:18:10.119
 we see the incarnation.

00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:12.039
 We see the incarnation.

00:18:12.419 --> 00:18:12.919
 Paul says

00:18:12.919 --> 00:18:14.539
 he was manifested

00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:15.539
 in the flesh.

00:18:15.919 --> 00:18:16.940
 He was justified

00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.700
 in the spirit.

00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:19.079
 This is the revelation

00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:21.059
 of the Son of God.

00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.799
 This is the revelation

00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:24.399
 of God

00:18:24.399 --> 00:18:25.720
 in the flesh.

00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:27.299
 The Word became flesh,

00:18:27.419 --> 00:18:28.019
 John 1.

00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:30.619
 And this is the revelation

00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:31.839
 of what Paul has already

00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:32.799
 said in 1 Timothy.

00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:34.579
 He said in chapter 1,

00:18:34.859 --> 00:18:35.939
 it was the words

00:18:35.939 --> 00:18:36.739
 of comfort and promise

00:18:36.739 --> 00:18:37.439
 we heard in our prayer

00:18:37.439 --> 00:18:37.939
 of confession

00:18:37.939 --> 00:18:39.459
 that Christ Jesus

00:18:39.459 --> 00:18:40.359
 came into the world

00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:41.279
 to save sinners.

00:18:42.419 --> 00:18:43.219
 In chapter 2,

00:18:43.339 --> 00:18:43.819
 Paul said

00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.819
 that he is

00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:45.739
 the God-man,

00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:47.000
 that he is

00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:47.979
 the unique,

00:18:48.179 --> 00:18:49.859
 the only mediator

00:18:49.859 --> 00:18:51.579
 between us

00:18:51.579 --> 00:18:52.659
 and a holy God.

00:18:52.859 --> 00:18:53.939
 He is the only one

00:18:53.939 --> 00:18:54.579
 of his kind.

00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:55.199
 He is,

00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:56.419
 as one commentator said,

00:18:56.419 --> 00:18:56.699
 quote,

00:18:56.939 --> 00:18:58.219
 he is man to God

00:18:58.219 --> 00:18:59.799
 and he is God to man.

00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:01.440
 He is man to God

00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:02.779
 and he is God to us.

00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:04.740
 And mediator,

00:19:04.879 --> 00:19:06.339
 mediator is the image

00:19:06.339 --> 00:19:06.659
 of,

00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.720
 when we think about

00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:08.700
 mediator kids,

00:19:08.899 --> 00:19:10.119
 think about an oven mitt

00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:10.779
 that you would use

00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:12.059
 to pull something hot

00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:12.779
 out of the oven,

00:19:13.139 --> 00:19:14.039
 like fresh baked

00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:14.940
 chocolate chip cookies.

00:19:15.379 --> 00:19:16.579
 If you don't use

00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:17.980
 that oven mitt

00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:19.960
 and you go to grab

00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:21.339
 the tray out of the oven,

00:19:21.419 --> 00:19:22.879
 it will burn your hand

00:19:22.879 --> 00:19:24.379
 because you cannot,

00:19:24.379 --> 00:19:25.779
 you cannot touch

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.740
 the temperature

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.659
 of the oven

00:19:27.660 --> 00:19:28.440
 is too hot

00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:29.120
 for us.

00:19:29.560 --> 00:19:30.180
 But if you put

00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:31.019
 on that oven mitt,

00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:31.980
 it mediates

00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:32.980
 between the heat

00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:34.380
 and your flesh.

00:19:35.540 --> 00:19:36.220
 And that is what

00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:37.840
 Jesus Christ is

00:19:37.840 --> 00:19:38.600
 as our mediator.

00:19:38.840 --> 00:19:39.720
 He is the one

00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:41.060
 who makes us

00:19:41.060 --> 00:19:42.220
 acceptable to God.

00:19:42.340 --> 00:19:42.920
 He is the one

00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:44.320
 that reconciles us

00:19:44.320 --> 00:19:44.880
 to God.

00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:45.519
 We can be

00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:46.540
 in the presence of God.

00:19:46.800 --> 00:19:47.820
 We can confess

00:19:47.820 --> 00:19:48.560
 our sins to him

00:19:48.560 --> 00:19:49.320
 as we did earlier

00:19:49.320 --> 00:19:51.000
 and we can trust,

00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:51.660
 we can bank

00:19:51.660 --> 00:19:52.220
 on the promise

00:19:52.220 --> 00:19:53.240
 of 1 John 1

00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:54.680
 that God is faithful,

00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:55.940
 God is just

00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:57.140
 to cleanse us

00:19:57.140 --> 00:19:57.900
 and to forgive us

00:19:57.900 --> 00:19:59.320
 of all unrighteousness

00:19:59.320 --> 00:20:00.660
 because Jesus Christ

00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:02.400
 is the only mediator

00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:03.620
 between God

00:20:03.620 --> 00:20:04.620
 and us.

00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:06.100
 Second,

00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:07.019
 we see the resurrection.

00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:08.759
 It says there

00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.480
 that he was seen

00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:10.080
 by angels,

00:20:10.340 --> 00:20:11.400
 he was proclaimed

00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:12.140
 or preached

00:20:12.140 --> 00:20:13.400
 on into the world.

00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:14.480
 This is the

00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.580
 proclamation

00:20:15.580 --> 00:20:17.840
 of this mystery

00:20:17.840 --> 00:20:18.480
 of godliness,

00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:19.779
 this God-man

00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.400
 who has stepped

00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:21.279
 into the world.

00:20:22.360 --> 00:20:23.019
 You'll notice

00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:23.920
 that there is no

00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:24.840
 reference to

00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:25.679
 the crucifixion.

00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.859
 And this is intentional

00:20:27.859 --> 00:20:28.720
 on Paul's part.

00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:29.399
 This is intentional

00:20:29.399 --> 00:20:30.779
 on the early church's part

00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:32.000
 because what are they doing?

00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:33.299
 They are emphasizing

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:35.019
 the exaltation

00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:36.159
 of Christ.

00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:37.399
 They are emphasizing

00:20:37.399 --> 00:20:38.439
 the glory,

00:20:38.639 --> 00:20:39.939
 the glory of Christ

00:20:39.939 --> 00:20:42.240
 over all other claims,

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.759
 all other claims

00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:44.799
 of the pagan religions

00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:45.299
 then

00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:47.439
 and all claims

00:20:47.439 --> 00:20:48.500
 of pagan religions

00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:50.459
 now as well.

00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:52.639
 Now, what do I mean

00:20:52.639 --> 00:20:53.000
 by that?

00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:55.339
 Anything that attempts

00:20:55.339 --> 00:20:57.079
 to raise itself

00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:58.119
 against the knowledge

00:20:58.119 --> 00:20:58.819
 of God

00:20:58.819 --> 00:21:00.559
 and the exaltation

00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.700
 of his son,

00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:03.019
 of this mystery

00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:03.680
 of godliness

00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:04.720
 that has been revealed

00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.480
 to the world

00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:06.759
 by definition

00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:07.960
 according to the New Testament

00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:09.579
 is pagan.

00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:11.460
 It's a pagan religion

00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:13.099
 and it is to be rejected.

00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:14.900
 As a matter of fact,

00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:17.700
 in 1 Peter 2,

00:21:17.700 --> 00:21:21.400
 God says that all other claims

00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:23.039
 will essentially be crushed

00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:24.980
 by this cornerstone

00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:26.400
 that God himself

00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:27.400
 has laid

00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:28.420
 as the foundation

00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:29.580
 of his house,

00:21:29.880 --> 00:21:30.539
 his son,

00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:31.680
 the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:33.660
 So do not fear,

00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:34.440
 friends.

00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:37.160
 Do not let your faith

00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:38.140
 be rocked

00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:41.120
 because all other claims

00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:42.880
 will be crushed

00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:43.420
 to pieces.

00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:46.560
 We are to reject them

00:21:46.560 --> 00:21:47.759
 because they are

00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:48.980
 they are attempting

00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:50.000
 to usurp

00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:51.400
 what God has revealed,

00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:52.960
 what God has done.

00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:55.340
 You may be thinking,

00:21:55.560 --> 00:21:56.660
 well, how can you say that?

00:21:57.820 --> 00:21:59.180
 How can you say that?

00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:02.160
 To which I would say,

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:03.240
 I'm not saying it.

00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:04.380
 God is saying it.

00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:06.279
 I am simply

00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:07.400
 the messenger.

00:22:08.800 --> 00:22:10.279
 God doesn't want you

00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:12.319
 or I to misunderstand

00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:14.299
 or misrepresent

00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:15.559
 his message.

00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:17.339
 Great indeed

00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:18.379
 is the mystery

00:22:18.379 --> 00:22:19.599
 of godliness.

00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:21.079
 And here's exactly

00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:21.660
 what it is.

00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.879
 That the Son of God

00:22:22.879 --> 00:22:24.079
 has come in the flesh.

00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.319
 That the Son of God

00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:26.500
 has overcome death.

00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:27.599
 And that the Son of God

00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:28.839
 has ascended back

00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:29.579
 to glory.

00:22:30.639 --> 00:22:31.700
 And we see that

00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:32.460
 in the ascension.

00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:34.099
 And that is the final

00:22:34.099 --> 00:22:34.799
 stanza of it.

00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:36.359
 Paul says that

00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:37.440
 he was believed on

00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:37.899
 in the world.

00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.139
 He was taken up

00:22:39.139 --> 00:22:40.160
 in glory.

00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:42.059
 This stands.

00:22:42.139 --> 00:22:43.579
 This stands as the summit,

00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:44.200
 the peak,

00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:45.139
 the apex.

00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:47.119
 The apex of God's

00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:48.899
 dealing in history,

00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:49.379
 friends.

00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:52.059
 That Christ was taken up

00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:52.680
 in glory.

00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:53.879
 He was crowned

00:22:53.879 --> 00:22:55.359
 with glory and honor

00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:56.720
 that's only reserved

00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.799
 for God alone.

00:22:59.180 --> 00:23:01.180
 And this is the message.

00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:02.019
 This is the message

00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:02.839
 that you and I,

00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:04.779
 that we are entrusted with

00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:05.420
 as the church.

00:23:06.139 --> 00:23:08.680
 This is the message

00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.399
 that we guard.

00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:10.420
 And it's the message

00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:11.560
 that we also proclaim

00:23:11.560 --> 00:23:12.680
 and we defend.

00:23:13.320 --> 00:23:14.460
 Because as Paul says there,

00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:15.460
 this is the message

00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.759
 that has been believed on

00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:17.320
 in the world.

00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:18.500
 This is the message

00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:20.280
 that changes the hearts

00:23:20.280 --> 00:23:23.000
 of you and I.

00:23:24.860 --> 00:23:26.060
 Now what does this mean

00:23:26.060 --> 00:23:27.320
 for us as a church?

00:23:28.120 --> 00:23:28.800
 What does this mean

00:23:28.800 --> 00:23:29.900
 for us as the people of God?

00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.960
 This is the dogma.

00:23:31.580 --> 00:23:32.280
 The dogma.

00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:33.740
 The meaning of it all.

00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:37.099
 This hymn, friends,

00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:39.359
 is inviting you and I.

00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:41.359
 It's inviting all of us

00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:42.880
 in this room this morning

00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:44.900
 to reflect upon

00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:46.940
 what Paul is saying here.

00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:49.039
 It's inviting you and I

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:50.559
 to consider the implications

00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:52.279
 for you and I.

00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:55.880
 How does the incarnation

00:23:55.880 --> 00:23:56.920
 of Jesus,

00:23:57.660 --> 00:23:59.019
 how does the resurrection

00:23:59.019 --> 00:24:00.019
 of Jesus,

00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:01.500
 how does the ascension

00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.920
 or the exaltation

00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:03.599
 of Jesus,

00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:05.500
 how does that pervade

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.599
 my thinking

00:24:06.599 --> 00:24:07.559
 on a daily basis?

00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:10.799
 How can you and I

00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:12.480
 live in the present age

00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:14.000
 with a mind knowing

00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:15.400
 that there is an age

00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:15.920
 to come?

00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:18.200
 An age that will transcend

00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:19.819
 everything I know

00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:21.299
 in this present fallen age.

00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:22.740
 You see,

00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:24.319
 what this is inviting us

00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:25.019
 to today

00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:25.579
 today

00:24:25.579 --> 00:24:27.700
 is to be reminded

00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:28.359
 of this

00:24:28.359 --> 00:24:29.779
 as we go into 2021.

00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:33.339
 That nothing has changed

00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:34.680
 for you and I

00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:35.460
 in Christ.

00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:37.039
 If anything,

00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.519
 we are that much closer.

00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:40.539
 We are that much closer

00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:42.079
 to glory.

00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:42.700
 Amen?

00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.359
 We are indeed.

00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:47.639
 This hymn

00:24:47.639 --> 00:24:49.160
 is designed to ground us

00:24:49.160 --> 00:24:49.980
 in that reality.

00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:51.680
 The reality

00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:54.240
 that we're fallen

00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:54.960
 in Adam,

00:24:55.580 --> 00:24:56.460
 but that Christ

00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:58.259
 came to save

00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:59.000
 sinners.

00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.259
 Christ came

00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:01.940
 to save sinners.

00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:04.840
 And little theologians,

00:25:05.080 --> 00:25:06.039
 you can be sure

00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:07.120
 of that.

00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:08.980
 The story,

00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.080
 the story

00:25:10.080 --> 00:25:11.400
 is that we rebelled

00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:13.000
 and we attempted

00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:14.240
 to kick God

00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:15.279
 out of his garden.

00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:16.960
 And yet,

00:25:17.060 --> 00:25:17.840
 he moved

00:25:17.840 --> 00:25:18.740
 towards us

00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:20.140
 in grace

00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:21.580
 and in judgment.

00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:24.200
 Because

00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:25.240
 this

00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:26.580
 mystery

00:25:26.580 --> 00:25:27.420
 of godliness,

00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.320
 this one

00:25:29.320 --> 00:25:30.000
 who was revealed

00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.740
 in the flesh,

00:25:31.320 --> 00:25:32.440
 ultimately would enter

00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:33.259
 the garden

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:34.220
 a second time,

00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:34.700
 would he not?

00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:36.259
 Only this time,

00:25:36.340 --> 00:25:37.100
 it wasn't the garden

00:25:37.100 --> 00:25:37.500
 of Eden.

00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:39.100
 It was the garden

00:25:39.100 --> 00:25:39.820
 of Gethsemane.

00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.720
 And this time,

00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:42.200
 Jesus,

00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:43.820
 the son of God,

00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:45.540
 he was faithful

00:25:45.540 --> 00:25:47.800
 unto an agonizing death

00:25:47.800 --> 00:25:49.880
 on a Roman cross.

00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:51.780
 And he

00:25:51.780 --> 00:25:53.740
 bore our sins

00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:56.360
 in his body

00:25:56.360 --> 00:25:57.140
 on the tree.

00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.440
 Our shame,

00:25:58.600 --> 00:25:59.120
 our guilt.

00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:01.300
 That sin,

00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:02.380
 that sin

00:26:02.380 --> 00:26:03.340
 that is between you

00:26:03.340 --> 00:26:04.220
 and your spouse

00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:05.000
 here this morning

00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:05.680
 in your marriage.

00:26:06.540 --> 00:26:07.360
 The sin

00:26:07.360 --> 00:26:08.500
 that you

00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.220
 are struggling

00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:09.680
 with

00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.440
 in your parenting,

00:26:10.600 --> 00:26:10.980
 perhaps.

00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:11.880
 Or kids,

00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:12.320
 the sin

00:26:12.320 --> 00:26:12.980
 that you are committing

00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:13.660
 against your brothers

00:26:13.660 --> 00:26:14.180
 and sisters.

00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:15.320
 Or that you are committing

00:26:15.320 --> 00:26:16.420
 against your parents.

00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:17.759
 or the sin

00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.660
 that dwells

00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:19.440
 in each and every

00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:20.120
 single one

00:26:20.120 --> 00:26:20.700
 of our hearts

00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:21.500
 in this room.

00:26:22.660 --> 00:26:23.860
 That shame

00:26:23.860 --> 00:26:25.640
 that we cannot

00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:26.680
 feel

00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:27.480
 that we can confess

00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:27.980
 to God

00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:29.180
 or we can confess

00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:30.779
 to someone else.

00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:33.000
 That is the sin,

00:26:33.160 --> 00:26:33.480
 friends.

00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:34.539
 That is the shame

00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:36.120
 that he bore

00:26:36.120 --> 00:26:37.500
 on the tree.

00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:39.800
 He bore it

00:26:39.800 --> 00:26:41.519
 as your substitute,

00:26:42.080 --> 00:26:43.259
 as my substitute.

00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:45.339
 And in the process

00:26:45.339 --> 00:26:46.119
 he experienced

00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:47.440
 the full wrath,

00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:48.859
 the full wrath

00:26:48.859 --> 00:26:49.660
 of his father.

00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:52.359
 All of that,

00:26:52.440 --> 00:26:53.440
 all of that,

00:26:53.819 --> 00:26:55.660
 crystal clear,

00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:57.980
 guaranteed

00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:59.579
 that you can trust it,

00:26:59.619 --> 00:27:00.920
 that you can bank on it.

00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:02.519
 It really happened.

00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:05.619
 When I read this passage

00:27:05.619 --> 00:27:06.339
 I think about

00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:07.160
 the end

00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:08.240
 of A Christmas Carol

00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:10.420
 after Ebenezer Scrooge

00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:11.259
 has woken up

00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:13.000
 and he asked

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.660
 the question,

00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:15.960
 was it all

00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:16.420
 too good

00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:16.920
 to be true?

00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:19.240
 Was it all

00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:19.599
 too good

00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:20.059
 to be true?

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.460
 Was his redemption

00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:22.440
 too good

00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:22.839
 to be true?

00:27:22.920 --> 00:27:23.599
 Was it simply

00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:24.339
 a dream?

00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:26.980
 And then Scrooge

00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.539
 says there,

00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:29.319
 it's all right.

00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:31.720
 It all happened.

00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:34.759
 It's really true.

00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:37.180
 Right here

00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:37.819
 in 1 Timothy

00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.400
 chapter 3

00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:39.660
 we have the early church

00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:40.379
 essentially saying

00:27:40.379 --> 00:27:41.079
 that to you and I.

00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:43.519
 it all really happened.

00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:44.920
 It's all

00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:46.400
 really true.

00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.660
 Great

00:27:48.660 --> 00:27:49.879
 is the mystery

00:27:49.879 --> 00:27:50.460
 of godliness

00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:51.240
 Paul says.

00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:52.900
 This is what God

00:27:52.900 --> 00:27:53.440
 has done

00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:54.220
 emphatically

00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:55.140
 in history

00:27:55.140 --> 00:27:56.279
 for all

00:27:56.279 --> 00:27:57.160
 all of us

00:27:57.160 --> 00:27:58.200
 who will hear this

00:27:58.200 --> 00:27:59.839
 and believe this

00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:00.339
 friends.

00:28:01.019 --> 00:28:01.779
 It is meant

00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.379
 to help

00:28:02.379 --> 00:28:03.359
 recalibrate

00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:04.119
 our hearts

00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:05.059
 our minds

00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:06.000
 to this

00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:07.099
 not just

00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:08.279
 during this season

00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:08.980
 of Advent

00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:09.619
 and Christmas

00:28:09.619 --> 00:28:11.179
 but every

00:28:11.179 --> 00:28:12.339
 single day

00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:13.339
 of our lives

00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:15.179
 so that we

00:28:15.179 --> 00:28:15.759
 are not

00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:16.379
 shaken

00:28:16.379 --> 00:28:17.559
 we are not

00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:18.519
 rocked

00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:18.959
 but we are

00:28:18.959 --> 00:28:20.000
 firmly established

00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.819
 in the faith

00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:21.619
 here and now

00:28:21.619 --> 00:28:22.599
 so that

00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:23.319
 as he says

00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:24.179
 in verse 14

00:28:24.179 --> 00:28:25.099
 you and I

00:28:25.099 --> 00:28:25.559
 might know

00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:26.479
 how to behave

00:28:26.479 --> 00:28:27.239
 in the household

00:28:27.239 --> 00:28:27.719
 of God

00:28:27.719 --> 00:28:28.759
 which is the church

00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:29.619
 of the living God.

00:28:30.379 --> 00:28:31.519
 This is the third

00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:32.039
 point.

00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.379
 The life

00:28:33.379 --> 00:28:34.739
 shaped by scripture.

00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:36.880
 The word

00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:37.480
 for household

00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:37.700
 there

00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:38.240
 it's an interesting

00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:38.880
 word that Paul

00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:39.559
 uses here.

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.559
 It's the same

00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:42.920
 root

00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:43.680
 of a word

00:28:43.680 --> 00:28:44.460
 that he used

00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:45.180
 in 1 Timothy

00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:45.940
 chapter 1

00:28:45.940 --> 00:28:46.599
 verse 4

00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:47.680
 where there

00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:48.240
 he talked

00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:48.660
 about

00:28:48.660 --> 00:28:50.579
 that what

00:28:50.579 --> 00:28:51.299
 Timothy

00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:52.059
 was to

00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:52.759
 preach

00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:53.259
 what Timothy

00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:53.980
 was to teach

00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:54.480
 what we are

00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.700
 to preach

00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:56.140
 and teach

00:28:56.140 --> 00:28:57.240
 in the church

00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:59.019
 is the stewardship

00:28:59.019 --> 00:28:59.759
 from God

00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:00.660
 that is by faith.

00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:02.319
 It's the same

00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:03.680
 word for stewardship

00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:04.240
 it's the same

00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:04.860
 root here

00:29:04.860 --> 00:29:06.140
 or root

00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:06.539
 of the word

00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:07.019
 that he uses

00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.920
 here for household

00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:09.840
 and what

00:29:09.840 --> 00:29:10.660
 what Paul

00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:11.720
 is is getting

00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:12.140
 at

00:29:12.140 --> 00:29:13.660
 is that

00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:14.660
 just as

00:29:14.660 --> 00:29:15.640
 the message

00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:16.580
 the message

00:29:16.580 --> 00:29:17.380
 the doctrine

00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:18.100
 the teaching

00:29:18.100 --> 00:29:20.539
 is from God

00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:21.160
 as he says

00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:22.000
 in chapter 1

00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:23.400
 so too

00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:24.420
 is the church

00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:26.180
 that you and I

00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:27.140
 are of God

00:29:27.140 --> 00:29:27.880
 that the church

00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:29.279
 is born of the same

00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:30.299
 sovereign grace

00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:31.620
 that saved

00:29:31.620 --> 00:29:32.259
 you and I

00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:32.920
 to begin with.

00:29:32.920 --> 00:29:34.060
 the church

00:29:34.060 --> 00:29:34.900
 is God's

00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:35.320
 household

00:29:35.320 --> 00:29:36.539
 it's God's

00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:36.920
 household

00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:38.000
 and this is

00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:38.740
 this is amazing

00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:39.240
 language

00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:39.640
 given

00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:40.840
 given the first

00:29:40.840 --> 00:29:41.200
 century

00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:42.080
 given the ancient

00:29:42.080 --> 00:29:42.620
 world

00:29:42.620 --> 00:29:44.480
 Paul is using

00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.120
 this as a

00:29:45.120 --> 00:29:45.940
 as a term

00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:47.259
 for royalty

00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:47.980
 as a term

00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:48.740
 for of course

00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:50.160
 a familial

00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:50.940
 relationship

00:29:50.940 --> 00:29:51.960
 that we enjoy

00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:52.779
 both with

00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.920
 both with the

00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:54.360
 father

00:29:54.360 --> 00:29:55.460
 and the son

00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:56.220
 and we enjoy

00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:57.259
 with one another

00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:57.720
 as well.

00:29:58.560 --> 00:29:58.980
 This is

00:29:58.980 --> 00:30:00.120
 truly truly

00:30:00.120 --> 00:30:00.680
 remarkable

00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:02.400
 as historian

00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:03.039
 Tom Holland

00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:03.580
 said in his

00:30:03.580 --> 00:30:04.340
 book Dominion

00:30:04.340 --> 00:30:05.519
 he talks about

00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:05.940
 that this

00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:06.840
 this concept

00:30:06.840 --> 00:30:07.660
 was so

00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:08.320
 incredibly

00:30:08.320 --> 00:30:08.900
 foreign

00:30:08.900 --> 00:30:09.539
 to the ancient

00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:09.980
 world

00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:11.279
 this concept

00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:12.299
 of God

00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:13.000
 being father

00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:13.700
 Jesus

00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:14.380
 being son

00:30:14.380 --> 00:30:15.440
 we be members

00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:16.000
 of the same

00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:16.799
 household of God

00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:17.840
 being family

00:30:17.840 --> 00:30:19.180
 and yet it's

00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:20.160
 this concept

00:30:20.160 --> 00:30:21.340
 that went out

00:30:21.340 --> 00:30:22.019
 from the world

00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:23.019
 and changed

00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:23.940
 turned the world

00:30:23.940 --> 00:30:24.440
 upside down

00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:25.420
 the pagan world

00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:26.539
 upside down

00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:28.460
 now this

00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:28.859
 household

00:30:28.859 --> 00:30:29.259
 is what

00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:29.819
 you and I

00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:30.319
 are called

00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:31.099
 to participate

00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:31.500
 in

00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:32.799
 we're called

00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:33.339
 to participate

00:30:33.339 --> 00:30:33.879
 in it

00:30:33.879 --> 00:30:35.000
 now how do

00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.559
 we do that

00:30:35.559 --> 00:30:38.039
 the main way

00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:38.799
 the primary way

00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:39.339
 we do that

00:30:39.339 --> 00:30:40.299
 is what we are

00:30:40.299 --> 00:30:41.079
 doing here today

00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:43.000
 being called

00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:43.779
 out of the world

00:30:43.779 --> 00:30:45.299
 to come and sit

00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:46.240
 to receive

00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:46.759
 from God

00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:47.740
 his means of grace

00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.920
 to receive

00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:50.399
 his pardon

00:30:50.399 --> 00:30:51.139
 for our sins

00:30:51.139 --> 00:30:51.839
 to sing

00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:52.420
 his praises

00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:53.059
 in response

00:30:53.059 --> 00:30:53.619
 to who God

00:30:53.619 --> 00:30:53.879
 is

00:30:53.879 --> 00:30:54.559
 we are to

00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:55.379
 confess our sins

00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:56.240
 we are to give

00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:56.900
 of our tithes

00:30:56.900 --> 00:30:57.360
 and offerings

00:30:57.360 --> 00:30:58.300
 we are to

00:30:58.300 --> 00:30:59.360
 confess the faith

00:30:59.360 --> 00:30:59.940
 that we have been

00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:00.820
 confessing as a church

00:31:00.820 --> 00:31:01.760
 for 2000 years

00:31:01.760 --> 00:31:02.880
 we are to sit

00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:03.680
 under the preaching

00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:04.480
 of his word

00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:05.700
 his primary means

00:31:05.700 --> 00:31:06.240
 of grace

00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:07.460
 and then

00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:08.980
 the Lord's Supper

00:31:08.980 --> 00:31:09.820
 baptism

00:31:09.820 --> 00:31:10.860
 the benediction

00:31:10.860 --> 00:31:11.760
 all of these things

00:31:11.760 --> 00:31:12.620
 God blessing

00:31:12.620 --> 00:31:13.940
 us as his people

00:31:13.940 --> 00:31:15.060
 again and again

00:31:15.060 --> 00:31:15.640
 and again

00:31:15.640 --> 00:31:16.780
 so that we are

00:31:16.780 --> 00:31:17.500
 built up

00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:18.280
 in holiness

00:31:18.280 --> 00:31:19.640
 we are built up

00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:20.640
 in godliness

00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:23.480
 and this is our

00:31:23.480 --> 00:31:24.420
 calling as his people

00:31:24.420 --> 00:31:24.880
 is it not

00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:26.300
 our calling

00:31:26.300 --> 00:31:26.320
 our calling

00:31:26.320 --> 00:31:28.040
 is to pursue

00:31:28.040 --> 00:31:29.000
 this God

00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:29.620
 our calling

00:31:29.620 --> 00:31:30.720
 is to pursue

00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:31.520
 godliness

00:31:31.520 --> 00:31:33.020
 pursue godliness

00:31:33.020 --> 00:31:34.300
 having our minds

00:31:34.300 --> 00:31:35.340
 transformed

00:31:35.340 --> 00:31:36.640
 having our bodies

00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:38.760
 set as living sacrifices

00:31:38.760 --> 00:31:40.000
 holy and acceptable

00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:40.520
 to him

00:31:40.520 --> 00:31:41.680
 having our hearts

00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:42.600
 our hearts

00:31:42.600 --> 00:31:43.880
 interacting with

00:31:43.880 --> 00:31:44.560
 God's truth

00:31:44.560 --> 00:31:45.600
 God's revelation

00:31:45.600 --> 00:31:46.200
 in his word

00:31:46.200 --> 00:31:47.140
 of who Jesus Christ

00:31:47.140 --> 00:31:47.640
 is

00:31:47.640 --> 00:31:50.100
 this is what we are

00:31:50.100 --> 00:31:50.560
 called to

00:31:50.560 --> 00:31:51.860
 as his people

00:31:51.859 --> 00:31:55.359
 this is ultimately

00:31:55.359 --> 00:31:55.959
 friends

00:31:55.959 --> 00:31:56.359
 what

00:31:56.359 --> 00:31:57.240
 Christianity

00:31:57.240 --> 00:31:58.359
 is truly

00:31:58.359 --> 00:31:59.359
 about

00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:01.000
 little theologians

00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:03.579
 know this

00:32:03.579 --> 00:32:03.899
 kids

00:32:03.899 --> 00:32:05.779
 that Christianity

00:32:05.779 --> 00:32:06.740
 isn't merely

00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:07.500
 a religion

00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:09.519
 it is a religion

00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:10.759
 who brings you

00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:11.219
 back

00:32:11.219 --> 00:32:12.419
 to your heavenly

00:32:12.419 --> 00:32:12.859
 father

00:32:12.859 --> 00:32:14.699
 and to your

00:32:14.699 --> 00:32:15.119
 blessed

00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:16.019
 big brother

00:32:16.019 --> 00:32:17.319
 the Lord Jesus

00:32:17.319 --> 00:32:17.859
 Christ

00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:20.079
 this is ultimately

00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:21.299
 what God

00:32:21.299 --> 00:32:22.240
 was doing

00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:23.799
 in revealing

00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:24.399
 his son

00:32:24.399 --> 00:32:24.879
 to the world

00:32:24.879 --> 00:32:25.719
 so that you and I

00:32:25.719 --> 00:32:26.819
 might be reconciled

00:32:26.819 --> 00:32:27.500
 back to him

00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:28.919
 and you and I

00:32:28.919 --> 00:32:29.599
 might be

00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:31.099
 might be at home

00:32:31.099 --> 00:32:32.219
 with him

00:32:32.219 --> 00:32:33.479
 in his household

00:32:33.479 --> 00:32:35.279
 and this is the

00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:35.919
 ministry friends

00:32:35.919 --> 00:32:36.679
 that as a church

00:32:36.679 --> 00:32:37.740
 we are entrusted

00:32:37.740 --> 00:32:38.099
 with

00:32:38.099 --> 00:32:39.579
 we proclaim

00:32:39.579 --> 00:32:40.439
 this message

00:32:40.439 --> 00:32:41.539
 we defend it

00:32:41.539 --> 00:32:42.479
 we protect it

00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:43.880
 Paul calls us

00:32:43.880 --> 00:32:45.319
 the buttress

00:32:45.319 --> 00:32:46.099
 or the fortress

00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:47.099
 of the truth

00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:49.440
 and don't miss that

00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:50.599
 he doesn't say

00:32:50.599 --> 00:32:52.380
 the fortress

00:32:52.380 --> 00:32:53.539
 of a truth

00:32:53.539 --> 00:32:54.940
 he says

00:32:54.940 --> 00:32:56.200
 the fortress

00:32:56.200 --> 00:32:58.339
 of the truth

00:32:58.339 --> 00:32:59.920
 the truth

00:32:59.920 --> 00:33:01.299
 it's because

00:33:01.299 --> 00:33:01.799
 this is

00:33:01.799 --> 00:33:02.559
 to be found

00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:03.319
 nowhere else

00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:04.700
 except in God's

00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:05.059
 household

00:33:05.059 --> 00:33:07.000
 this message

00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:07.700
 to the world

00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:09.400
 salvation

00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:10.559
 has come

00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:12.579
 this is our

00:33:12.579 --> 00:33:13.839
 great confession

00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:14.339
 friends

00:33:14.339 --> 00:33:15.259
 handed down

00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:15.740
 to us

00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:16.319
 by our

00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:16.759
 spiritual

00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:17.440
 ancestors

00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:19.339
 great indeed

00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:20.220
 we confess

00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:21.039
 is the mystery

00:33:21.039 --> 00:33:22.279
 of godliness

00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:23.619
 great indeed

00:33:23.619 --> 00:33:25.119
 is our God

00:33:25.119 --> 00:33:25.539
 friends

00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:26.059
 amen

00:33:26.059 --> 00:33:28.779
 he has provided

00:33:28.779 --> 00:33:29.859
 everything that you

00:33:29.859 --> 00:33:30.480
 and I need

00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:31.440
 for life and godliness

00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:33.399
 do not fear

00:33:33.399 --> 00:33:34.960
 but look to him

00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:37.500
 when on the day

00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:38.839
 the great I am

00:33:38.839 --> 00:33:40.419
 the faithful

00:33:40.419 --> 00:33:41.159
 and the true

00:33:41.159 --> 00:33:42.779
 the lamb

00:33:42.779 --> 00:33:43.579
 who was for

00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.439
 sinners slain

00:33:44.439 --> 00:33:45.839
 is making

00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:46.899
 all things new

00:33:46.899 --> 00:33:48.679
 behold

00:33:48.679 --> 00:33:49.459
 our God

00:33:49.459 --> 00:33:50.039
 shall live

00:33:50.039 --> 00:33:50.759
 with us

00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:53.139
 and be

00:33:53.139 --> 00:33:54.099
 our steadfast

00:33:54.099 --> 00:33:54.519
 light

00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:56.259
 and we

00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:56.699
 shall

00:33:56.699 --> 00:33:57.039
 air

00:33:57.039 --> 00:33:57.740
 his people

00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.179
 be

00:33:58.179 --> 00:34:00.019
 all glory

00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:00.859
 be to Christ

00:34:00.859 --> 00:34:02.939
 all glory

00:34:02.939 --> 00:34:03.779
 be to Christ

00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:04.559
 our king

00:34:04.559 --> 00:34:05.579
 all glory

00:34:05.579 --> 00:34:06.759
 be to Christ

00:34:06.759 --> 00:34:08.539
 his rule

00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:09.320
 and reign

00:34:09.320 --> 00:34:10.900
 will ever sing

00:34:10.900 --> 00:34:12.940
 all glory

00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:14.559
 be to Christ

00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:17.880
 that is the end

00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:18.599
 of the story

00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:19.880
 that is already

00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:20.260
 written

00:34:20.260 --> 00:34:22.880
 it is

00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:24.440
 kept in heaven

00:34:24.440 --> 00:34:25.300
 for you

00:34:25.300 --> 00:34:27.059
 and that is a promise

00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:27.920
 that you can trust

00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:28.820
 today

00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:31.139
 the grass withers

00:34:31.139 --> 00:34:32.000
 and the flowers fade

00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:32.679
 but the word

00:34:32.679 --> 00:34:33.460
 of our lord

00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:34.860
 stands forever

00:34:34.860 --> 00:34:36.680
 and thanks be to him

00:34:36.680 --> 00:34:37.680
 amen

00:34:37.680 --> 00:34:39.240
 let's pray

00:34:39.240 --> 00:34:41.220
 God we thank you

00:34:41.220 --> 00:34:42.599
 we thank you for this word

00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:44.320
 we thank you

00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:44.700
 Lord

00:34:44.700 --> 00:34:47.059
 in times

00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:48.700
 of uncertainty

00:34:48.700 --> 00:34:50.360
 of unrest

00:34:50.360 --> 00:34:51.260
 Lord

00:34:51.260 --> 00:34:52.460
 that each and every one of us

00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:53.140
 have experienced

00:34:53.140 --> 00:34:54.559
 this year in particular

00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:56.820
 perhaps more so

00:34:56.820 --> 00:34:57.200
 than

00:34:57.200 --> 00:34:58.800
 in any other time

00:34:58.800 --> 00:35:00.500
 of recent memory

00:35:00.500 --> 00:35:01.380
 in our lives

00:35:01.380 --> 00:35:03.480
 Lord

00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:04.660
 we are so thankful

00:35:04.660 --> 00:35:07.220
 that we are part

00:35:07.220 --> 00:35:07.880
 of your household

00:35:07.880 --> 00:35:09.740
 the fortress

00:35:09.740 --> 00:35:10.720
 of the truth

00:35:10.720 --> 00:35:12.340
 we thank you

00:35:12.340 --> 00:35:12.579
 for that

00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:13.039
 we thank you

00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:13.760
 for the story

00:35:13.760 --> 00:35:15.500
 that you have

00:35:15.500 --> 00:35:16.119
 written

00:35:16.119 --> 00:35:17.519
 Lord Jesus

00:35:17.519 --> 00:35:18.019
 the story

00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:18.640
 that you have

00:35:18.640 --> 00:35:19.119
 acted

00:35:19.119 --> 00:35:19.539
 that you have

00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:20.059
 taken upon

00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:20.559
 yourself

00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:22.059
 Lord

00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:22.500
 the story

00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:23.240
 that you sweep

00:35:23.240 --> 00:35:24.099
 us up into

00:35:24.099 --> 00:35:24.740
 and you make us

00:35:24.740 --> 00:35:25.420
 your very own

00:35:25.420 --> 00:35:26.860
 we thank you

00:35:26.860 --> 00:35:27.760
 for the dogma

00:35:27.760 --> 00:35:28.640
 we thank you

00:35:28.640 --> 00:35:29.240
 for the meaning

00:35:29.240 --> 00:35:29.980
 of the story

00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:30.480
 that we can

00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:31.099
 understand

00:35:31.099 --> 00:35:31.860
 what it all

00:35:31.860 --> 00:35:32.400
 means

00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:34.279
 and Lord

00:35:34.279 --> 00:35:34.759
 we thank you

00:35:34.759 --> 00:35:35.819
 for the new life

00:35:35.819 --> 00:35:36.539
 that we have

00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.199
 by the power

00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:37.940
 of your spirit

00:35:37.940 --> 00:35:39.380
 our union

00:35:39.380 --> 00:35:40.940
 with Jesus

00:35:40.940 --> 00:35:41.940
 we are united

00:35:41.940 --> 00:35:42.279
 to him

00:35:42.279 --> 00:35:42.900
 by faith

00:35:42.900 --> 00:35:43.699
 and faith alone

00:35:43.699 --> 00:35:45.179
 and Lord

00:35:45.179 --> 00:35:46.400
 you lead us on

00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:47.579
 you lead us on

00:35:47.579 --> 00:35:48.500
 to that great city

00:35:48.500 --> 00:35:50.759
 all glory be to you

00:35:50.759 --> 00:35:51.259
 we pray

00:35:51.259 --> 00:35:52.319
 amen